THE SLAYING OF BAKASURA

One day, when the other brothers had gone to beg for alms, Bhimasena staved behind with his mother, and they heard loud lamentations from the house of their brahmana landlord. Some great calamity surely bad befallen the poor family and Kunti went inside to learn what it was.

The brahmana and his wife could hardly speak for weeping, but, at last the brahmana said to his wife: "0 unfortunate and foolish woman, though time and again I wished we should leave this city for good, you would not agree.

You persisted in saying that you were born and bred here and here you would stay where your parents and relations had lived and died. How can I think of losing you who have been to me at once my life's mate, loving mother, the wife who bore my children, nay, my all in all? I cannot send you to death while I keep myself alive.

This little girl has been given to us by God as a trust to be handed over in time to a worthy man. It is unrighteous to sacrifice her who is a gift of God to perpetuate the race. It is equally impossible to allow this other, our son, to be killed.

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